Tweens, Teens, Cellphones and the Classroom….. Some Thoughts and Suggestions

According to a 2015 PEW Research report ( http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/ ) approximately 88% of all teens today, have access to either a cellphone or smartphone in North America. As parents, we can attest to how mobile has changed the playing field when it comes to our kids accessing the Internet and Social Media. Given that these phones have become a cyborg type appendage that have become difficult for our kids to disconnect from, its no wonder that we are now seeing an ever increasing debate over the accessing and use of cellphones within schools.

Bring Your Own Device (B.Y.O.D) has been a recent adoption that many schools have taken, but what about those student who come from a socio-economic background that fiscally prohibits them from owning a digital device. ( https://www.wssda.org/Portals/0/Resources/AZ%20(misc)/Bring%20Your%20Own%20Device%20Tip%20Sheet.pdf ) How does a school ensure equal academic access to these students ? Do we create a greater “digital divide” between the “have” and “have not” students at a school when a school adopts a BYOD policy? Through my readings of the literature, it is clear to me that there are many more questions than there are answers that still need to be asked and even considered specific to BYOD.

The fact remains however, what should schools be doing today given the smartphone tidal wave that has now landed in the classroom. Having presented to over 360 Jr and Sr High schools throughout Canada and the United States, I have found two practices/policies that are usually adopted by school districts:

Zero tolerance for any use at any time on school property, or

BYOD with no appropriate policy, procedure or enforcement

ZERO TOLERANCE:

This type of policy although effective specific to dealing with “distraction” in the classroom ( http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/07/michigan_school_bans_cell_phon.html ), does not reflect the reality of how teens can be taught how to use their device as a very effective learning tool in both the classroom and in life. A zero tolerance policy also forces students to become creative in their “underground” online activities while at school, which can also have huge negative consequences.

BYOD NO POLICY

Given the fact that cellphones have become ubiquitous in schools, and given the fact that it has become more and more difficult for teachers and principals to manage their use, even with Zero Tolerance policies in place, many schools have just opened the doors and allow students to bring their phones and other devices into the classroom. Often these schools will cobble together some basic policy surrounding use in the school, but often this policy is ignored by both students and teachers. This ladies and gentlemen becomes a recipe for disaster, especially when it comes to all the distraction in the classroom challenges that many teachers face today.

A Hybrid Asymmetrical Suggestion:

I do not agree with Zero or BYOD No policy approaches to the current challenges faced specific to this issue. I do however believe in a hybrid asymmetrical approach which I will now outline below. Specific to policy, schools need to adopt what I call the “iron fist velvet glove approach” to policy development. In other words policy should be relevant and reasonable to meet the needs of all (velvet glove), but when breached there should also be reasonable and appropriate consequence to actions (iron fist). A school’s policy on this challenge should clearly outline:

The only changes I would make to this policy would be to allow students to access their devices, prior to classes starting in the morning, during lunch and after school hours. Notice I did not include a recess as I believe this should be a time where teens and especially tweens should be interacting with one another face-to-face. Remember its about finding a balance. I would also ensure that both the parent and student sign off on this policy so that neither can state later on that they were never advised about the consequences to actions regarding inappropriate mobile use while at school.

In my opinion, the most important component for this policy to work is to have 100% buy in from all staff, and that consequences to actions must be enforced consistently and immediately. Remember, students will always push back to see how far they can go, thus why the school must enforce a breach in a reasonable and appropriate manner. You need to become their “best teacher” and not their “best friend” specific to this issue and all its challenges.

Now The Asymmetrical Compliance Application by Teachers:

A good policy should also allow any teacher to apply its principles consistently, but yet also allow the teacher to apply them in diverse applications. As most of us now know, because of research ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-hersman/cell-phones-a-potentially_b_7161074.html ), one reason why these smartphones have become so addictive to our tweens and teens is because of dopamine. Every time the phone rings, bleeps, chirps or vibrates, the brain becomes conditioned to release a small amount of dopamine…..the pleaser drug. This is why over time, it becomes so difficult for many students to not access their phones privately during class for things other than school work.

Understanding this fact, there is new research emerging from the field of cyber-psychology. Research psychologist and professor emeritus Larry Rosen at California State University has stated:

“Most college students are heavy users who are going to get anxious and stressed within 10 or 15 minutes if they can’t check their phones. Give in to the distraction, but at measured intervals. I start by calling a tech break, where they can check their phone for one minute, every 15 minutes,” he says. “Over time you can increase it to 20, 25. And within a couple weeks you can get them to go 30 minutes without needing it.”

This, in my opinion, is a great example of an asymmetrical application of psychological research that has proven to be highly effective. So for you teachers of both Jr and Sr high school students, maybe think about adding at least one 1 minute tech break in your class, it may just be what you are looking for. Again if a student abuses this “privilege” then there should be a reasonable consequence such as the ones outlined in the above noted policy.

Too many schools have no clear and consistent policy when it comes to cell phone use in a classroom. However, some schools that do have policy, it is often dated or even Draconian in nature given current academic research on the issue. Often a school’s expectations are totally inconsistent in their approach and application to these challenges from class to class; this only leads to students not being able to develop consistent and desirable mobile use behaviors.

I do believe that “good policy” , combined with “asymmetrical compliance techniques”, can go a long way to ensure that mobile tech is well integrated into a school, thus benefiting all.